SUPER GREEN - the International Academy of Design and Health

Design & Health Scientifi c ReviewAwakeningsDr John Zeisel is chair of theinternational advisory boardof the International Academyfor Design & Health andpresident of HearthstoneAlzheimer CareProf Romano Del Nordis chair of the scientifi ccommittee of the InternationalAcademy for Design & Healthand deputy rector of theUniversity of FlorenceIn our daily lives we are often so busy and preoccupiedthat we don’t see obvious every day things in front of oureyes. We pass a particular store and don’t notice the shopwindow has been changed, and we sit in our favourite chairwithout noticing that it has been cleaned for the fi rst timein years. These things pass unnoticed – until someone pointsthem out!That’s what evidenced-basedresearch in the built environmentcan do for us, as is the case withthis issue’s articles. Shopping in acrowded street market, womenhaving babies, and looking out awindow at an ocean view are some of the every day events in which thebuilt environment can impact on our health and wellbeing.Akers and Akers’ careful multi-method study of the health implicationsof selling vegetables and other household goods on crowded sidewalksin Baguio City, Philippines makes us take a second glance at all those whowork outdoors in crowded cities. It is now de rigueur in New York City tohave a gyro sandwich and fruit shake on the corner for lunch. In Bangkok,food and knock-off clothing vendors line every downtown sidewalk.This study also demonstrates how important it is to analyse environmentscarefully when drawing conclusions – the width of the sidewalk and theslope of the street in this example – and to employ the most appropriatemethod for each dimension.Forbes, Homer, Foureur and Leap carry out a similarly careful study ofplaces for birthing. If birthing at home is so much more comfortable andnatural, they posit, we ought to design hospital environments for birthing thathave the same supportive characteristics. Their design recommendationsinclude such subtle elements as the fl ow rate of bath water so that thewater can be heated up quickly for comfort, and location of the bath againsta wall so that mothers feel less “on display”.Jones and Manighetti, in part of their research, examine the every dayaction of looking out of an offi ce window – something we do many times aday. But are we aware of what we are looking at, how one view differs fromanother, and how that view affects our wellbeing? I seldom am!Their fi nal hypothesis focuses on what it is that makes views of natureso engaging and health promoting. What they conclude is that it may wellbe the colours – is it “nature” that makes us feel better or the colours blueand green?All in all, evidence-based design research does more than just giveus design guidelines; it helps us wake up to our surroundings. For thisI am thankful.47-53Birthing unit design:Researching new principlesIan Forbes MSc, (HealthServices Planning and Administration), Grad Dip BusAdmin, BArch, FRAIA; Caroline Homer, RM RN MN, PhD;Maralyn Foureur, RM, RN, BA, Grad Dip Clin Epidem &Biostats, PhD; Nicky Leap, DMid MSc RM55-59Urban design:The health impact of street vendorenvironmentsMary Anne Alabanza Akers, PhD; Timothy A Akers, PhD63-67Environmental psychology:The impact of colour and light on wellbeingLinda Jones PhD; Barbara Manighetti PhDWORLD HEALTH DESIGN | October 2008 45